It's a Waste of Time to Vote, Let Alone Be Informed About Politics
It 's a Waste of Time to Vote, Let Alone be Informed About Politics
When studying voter turnout it is often seen that voting is the norm. However, it would be beneficial to look at why members of the electorate vote at all. Since the 1997 general election, the turnout rate has significantly decreased from 71% to 59% in 2001 and 61% in 2005 (Mellows-Facer:2005). There are many possible explanations for this dramatic drop in the turnout rates including, the fact that many members of the electorate have lost their faith in our system of government or that more people are uneducated in the workings of the government and politics and do not understand how it benefits them.
It is argued that it is a waste of time to vote as after the election the government is no longer accountable to the electorate until the next election. Rousseau stated that only during the election could England refer to itself as free (Rousseau:1762). Once a party has a parliamentary majority they are able to pass any legislation they wish and the electorate and other parties can be seen to be powerless to stop them. Thus, some members of the electorate do not see the point in voting as their vote will not make much, if any difference on future legislation. Whilst this is true to some degree it is still possible for the public to prevent or at least delay legislation becoming law. This can be done through the use of pressure groups or calls for a referendum on the subject. In the 1990 's there were mass demonstrations against the poll tax which resulted in people refusing to pay it and its eventual abolishing. This is a prime example of how the electorate can still influence the government and its decisions after the general election. These members of the electorate put severe pressure on the government to change its legislation and proved that it was not popular. It can however be argued that the methods used by these campaigners were undemocratic as by failing to pay the poll tax they were
When studying voter turnout it is often seen that voting is the norm. However, it would be beneficial to look at why members of the electorate vote at all. Since the 1997 general election, the turnout rate has significantly decreased from 71% to 59% in 2001 and 61% in 2005 (Mellows-Facer:2005). There are many possible explanations for this dramatic drop in the turnout rates including, the fact that many members of the electorate have lost their faith in our system of government or that more people are uneducated in the workings of the government and politics and do not understand how it benefits them.
It is argued that it is a waste of time to vote as after the election the government is no longer accountable to the electorate until the next election. Rousseau stated that only during the election could England refer to itself as free (Rousseau:1762). Once a party has a parliamentary majority they are able to pass any legislation they wish and the electorate and other parties can be seen to be powerless to stop them. Thus, some members of the electorate do not see the point in voting as their vote will not make much, if any difference on future legislation. Whilst this is true to some degree it is still possible for the public to prevent or at least delay legislation becoming law. This can be done through the use of pressure groups or calls for a referendum on the subject. In the 1990 's there were mass demonstrations against the poll tax which resulted in people refusing to pay it and its eventual abolishing. This is a prime example of how the electorate can still influence the government and its decisions after the general election. These members of the electorate put severe pressure on the government to change its legislation and proved that it was not popular. It can however be argued that the methods used by these campaigners were undemocratic as by failing to pay the poll tax they were
Bibliography: Rousseau, J-J (2003). On The Social Contract. New York: Dover Publication. p44. Granett, M. & Lynch, P. (2003) UK Government and Politics, Philip Allan Updates, Oxfordshire Unknown. (2003). 'Milion ' March Against Iraq War. Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/2765041.stm. Last accessed 21 March 2010. Pickford, N.. (2010). Four Face Criminal Charges over Expenses Scandal. Available: http://news.icm.ac.uk/business/four-face-criminal-charges-over-expenses-scandal/5493/. Last accessed 21 March 2010. Trueman, C.. (2005). The 2005 British General Election. Available: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/2005_british_general_election.htm. Last accessed 22 March 2010. Unknown. (2008). Reasons Why You Should Register. Available: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/why_should_i_register_to_vot1/reasons_why_you_should_regis.aspx. Last accessed 22 March 2010. Mellows-Facer, A.. (2006). General Election 2005. Available: http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2005/rp05-033.pdf. Last accessed 22 March 2010. Dhondt, P.. (2000). EU: Anti-Sweatshop Campaign Targets Adidas. Available: http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=1311. Last accessed 21 March 2010